My Letter to the editor...on how we can solve the immigration problem.

It didn't get published.

Can we learn from Canada?

There has been a lot of talk about how to solve the present immigration crises that is in front of us now.

We have two diametrically opposed parties that at this time are not budging on their reasons why they are against or for illegal immigration.

What I thought I would do is present what I found to be a reasonable solution of allowing immigrants into the country based on what Canada is doing, from the book "Crowded Land Of Liberty" by Dirk Chase Eldredge.

In the past Canada was a country that had quite a liberal attitude toward immigration.

By allowing an unchecked amount of immigrants into the country it eventually got to a breaking point and Canada said "enough is enough" and they had to make some fundamental changes to their lax immigration policies.

The way they did this was actually quite simple. They came up with a point system where the maximum number was 100, and one factor that was a critical part of the equation was Canada's unemployment rate at the time.

This point system was based on this important theme, how would these immigrants benefit Canada and not become a burden on the social and economic resources of the Country.

One requirement that had no bearing on the point system was,what was considered the "nuclear family" or family ties through reunification.

If you had family already in the country your going there would be of no great point value unless you had enough point value in the other areas. So family ties didn't mean as much as some other more critical point issues.

All potential immigrants were given Canada's Guide for Independent Applicants, which basically let them know how the whole process worked. A key point brought out in the booklet said that for you to come into the country you had to be experienced and qualified in some beneficial occupation. A list of those occupations and the point value of them were listed in the booklet. In other words here are the jobs that we're looking for ranked by importance.

If you were indigent you weren't even considered. All applicants would have to prove they had enough money to support themselves and their dependents for at least six months after they arrived in the country.

The guide also highlighted what the financial requirements were. They would have to have at least $10,000 for themselves and $2000.00 for each dependent.

So pretty much the immigrants applying for entry into the country knew what they had to do and what was expected of them so there were no surprises. If you didn't comply your were rejected entry.

How the scoring added up.

If you scored less than sixty points out of the 100 you were not considered as a good fit for admittance into Canada.

The point system is based on several factors, which I will now list.

Some major points toward acceptance.

1. Age.

Age had a point value of 10, you had to be from 21 to 44 yrs old.

Those under 17 of over 48 were give Zero!

2. Education

The higher the education the higher the points.

Those without a high school diploma received no points, those with one received 10 points. Those with a Ph.D. or more received 16 points and a pre-arranged job properly verified was worth 10 points.

3. Fluency

Those that could speak English or French received 9 points, and if you spoke two languages you received an extra 6 points.

4. Relatives

If you had relatives in the country you received 5 points.

5. Health Status

You would have to pass a physical examination and if you had some serious health problem you were rejected.

If you received enough points and were granted entry into the country you would then be able to receive social benefits, but you could not vote until you were made a citizen which would come several years later.

As you can see Canada's intelligent approach to managing immigration was based on the best interest of Canada and not the immigrant or family tie within the country.

When you look at America's immigration policy, which is based on family reunification there is a world of difference.

Our country has a misplaced feel good approach to immigration which seems to ignore what's best for our country.

This has resulted in a runaway population growth which is now being fueled by at least a million immigrants a year and growing.

We all want good people to come here and were happy that they want to be here but I along with many others would like to see the quality of the people coming here based on a point system that rates these people on the criteria mentioned above.

As the question was asked in Canada, we have to ask ourselves the same, how is the individual that is coming here going to benefit us? Will this person become a burden to us.

If we don't make some adjustments to our present way of allowing people to enter our country legally and equitably we are going to end up like runaway train going downhill, will you be ready for the crash?

One of my closest friends passed some years ago. She was an avid reader and was genuinely interested in government affairs. During political discussions, she would mumble something I never quite caught. One day, I asked her to clarify her mumbles.

"Back to the boats," she responded. "We need to get back into the boats and arrive again. Those who arrive now get everything, ignore our laws and do nothing to honor our country."

Her words were prophetic. Our community is overly occupied by thousands of undocumented aliens who entered our country illegally without airport pat downs or health checks. Many have registered for free family health care, education, cash assistance, food stamps and free public housing, all while working at paying jobs. Their infractions are treated lightly in our courts, i.e. low bail and deportation free of charge to their home countries where they are not sanctioned for their American crimes.

Many return with a different name.

Another comment that makes my blood boil red, white and blue is "they came here for a living like our parents did."

Our parents, grandparents and relatives came to America during the 1890-1940 migration when generous public assistance programs were not in existence. They did, indeed, come here to earn a living, learn the language, the culture, and to comply with the rigid requirements of citizenship.

They, and their children, proudly answered the call to serve their new country in two World Wars and several military conflicts. Their travel dockets were processed at Ellis Island and various American ports where their immigration status became a matter of record. They underwent stringent background and health checks. Absence of documentation was duly noted. They were required to have a sponsor, housing and jobs. They were "documented new arrivals." Unless one was ill or disabled, public assistance was seen as a disgraceful imposition on their new friends and neighbors.

Today's illegal aliens blatantly disrespect America's rule of law when they decide to enter America illegally. By so doing they avoid background and health checks, learning American culture, our common language and, in particular, they look askance at federal mandates, including those that require all 18-year-old males, legal or illegal, to register for Selective Service.

There never was any doubt our eligible family members would defend the country that held us to its bosom while we pursued our dreams for a better life. All of which brings us to the memorial vigil for one of our young citizens, Matthew Denice.

One of the outstanding tributes to Matthew was the about 300 motorcyclists who rode by Draper Park. Tears flowed as the bikers revved their motors in tribute to Matt.

A tearful vigil participant asked the question, "How did we get to this point?" A bystander responded, "Because we did not speak out in the past."

There are those who are attempting to make Matthew's death a drunken driving issue.

Two of three related deaths were not caused by drunken driving but all three deaths were caused by illegal alien unlicensed drivers. According to online searches, 12 Americans die every day at the hands of illegal alien unlicensed drivers.

In October 2009, Milford's Richard Grossi died from his injuries received at the Fruit Street intersection when an illegal, unlicensed alien driver ignored the stop sign and the overhead blinking red light and crashed into his car. The illegal alien unlicensed perpetrator and her family were deported free of charge and sanction.

In February 2011, Mrs. Andrea Agosto of Ashland lost her life on Cedar Street in Milford when another of our illegal alien unlicensed drivers smashed into a car in which Agosto was a passenger. The perpetrator is awaiting trial in October. Matthew's untimely demise, on Aug. 22 was the third Milford death in two years caused by illegal alien unlicensed drivers. Matthew's executioner lived in this country for five years, had four prior violations and required a taxpayer-funded interpreter.

Another comment is misdirected. "Don't make this political." If we want to change current laws that allowed the massacre of three innocent people in less than two years, it should be apparent we need the lawmaking services of those we placed in the political arena. Politics is the art of government and is the only way to make statutory changes in a democracy.

Lastly, landlords, employers and illegal alien sympathizers should be aware: "A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he: assists an alien she/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions."

This is not about drunken driving. All of us are held accountable for that violation. This is about the refusal of illegal aliens to respect our legal entry process, visa quotas, speak our language, learn our laws, our culture, support themselves and honor the spirit of America.